The World Olympians Association (WOA) is pleased to announce the appointment of New Zealand Olympian Chantal Brunner to its Executive Committee. Brunner’s addition brings the total number of WOA Board members to 18 and follows a sustained period of growth for the member organisation for Olympians worldwide, as mandated by the newly updated WOA Constitution passed by the WOA General Assembly in October last year.
Brunner, a two-time Olympian, who represented New Zealand in Long Jump at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, joins the WOA Board as a continental representative of the National Olympians Associations of Oceania and brings with her a wealth of experience as both an elite athlete and a sports administrator.
Brunner, who is currently Chair of the New Zealand Olympians Commission, was formerly a board member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and convened the NZOC Athletes’ Commission. She has widespread experience as a solicitor in international corporate and commercial law and is widely known within local Olympic circles as someone who actively works to benefit the lives of her fellow Olympians and those within her community.
“The WOA is delighted to welcome Chantal Brunner as the latest member to join our expanded Executive Committee. Chantal has proven herself to be a dedicated and passionate member of the Olympic Family, not only through her achievements as an athlete but also through her work within the NZOC as leader of her country’s Athletes’ Commission and more lately as Chair of the New Zealand Olympians Commission," said WOA President Joël Bouzou.
“We are confident Chantal will make an excellent addition to our leadership team and we look forward to working closely with her in the future as we continue to develop and grow the organisation.”
Two-time Olympian and Chair of the New Zealand Olympians Association, Chantal Brunner is honoured to be appointed to the Board and is looking forward to the work ahead.
“I am grateful to be named as the Oceania representative on the Board of the World Olympians Association to work on behalf of my fellow Olympians both regionally and globally; it is a fantastic opportunity and a great challenge that I am excited to undertake," she said.
“The Olympic Games are a special moment in any athlete’s life, more often the pinnacle of our careers, but it’s important that athletes feel supported at all stages of their lives both during and after their competitive careers, which is why the WOA’s role within the Olympic Movement is an important one and why I am looking forward to being a part of it.”
The WOA leadership team, led by President Joël Bouzou, now includes representatives from the IOC as well as an equal number of male and female representatives from all five continents. The expansion of the Executive Committee, which was approved by the WOA General Assembly at the inaugural World Olympians Forum in Moscow last year, ensures WOA leadership fairly represents its global constituents and will enable it to serve the needs of Olympians worldwide.
The next full meeting of the WOA Executive Committee will take place in Rio de Janeiro in August during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.